Prior to Brexit, and the end of the 12 month transition period, there were no customs borders between the UK and EU states. This means that importing and exporting goods between the UK and the rest of the EU was as straightforward as shipping goods from one end of the country to the other. Customs duties and paperwork were eliminated, and goods could also pass through one EU country en-route to another in an entirely frictionless way.
What are the changes post-Brexit?
From the 1st January 2021 a new set of regulations came into force regulating importing and exporting between the UK and the EU. The new regulations have added greater complexity, and have introduced new processes. All of this increases the amount of time, resources needed and costs.
Under these new rules, shipments are required to be pre-cleared and the rules of origin will be enforced. EU officials are on the lookout for third-country components and products. Therefore, it’s crucial that all commercial invoices need to carry an appropriate declaration of origin in the specified format.
The rules and procedure needed to follow can seem complicated but detailed guidelines can be accessed at the government website.
Even if everything runs smoothly, delays are likely to occur particularly at busier times of the year. Therefore it’s important to liaise with your logistics company and make sure that you plan ahead.
In light of all this you might be wondering how quickly can I ship to the EU? While the answer isn’t always straightforward, freight forwarding companies can help to make the process easier.
Where are delays likely to occur?
There are a number of different points where delays can occur during the shipping process into the EU. Additional customs checks mean that potential delays are now built into the shipping process. If processes fail or have been inadequately followed, then more time may be required to clear ports. These delays can have a knock-on effect on supply chains and can cause particular problems with perishable products.
All products of animal origins and plants now have to enter the EU via a point of entry with a Border Inspection Post. This can lead to significant delays at busier times of year.
How long does it take if everything goes smoothly?
If all the necessary documentation is in place shipping into the EU can be undertaken quickly with very little change from the pre-Brexit period. In which case, the main consideration when it comes to the time it will take are essentially those of logistics. If it’s a busier time of the year for shipping it will take marginally longer than at a quiet time of year.
For a comprehensive assessment and advice about the length of time it might take to ship your goods into the EU contact the professional and knowledgeable team at SSO Logistics. We are well-versed in the new regulations and are helping exporters get to grips with the changes.
Call 01744 416 999 or use our contact form today.
